Gujarat HC poker matters adjourned once again

The letters patent appeals pertaining to the legality of poker were once again adjourned by the Gujarat High Court without any hearing.

On 7th February, a clutch of letters patent appeals filed by Indian Poker Association Secretary KN Suresh, Hotel Ramada and Aman Chhabra were supposed to be heard by a division bench of the Gujarat High Court comprising of Acting Chief Justice Anant Dave and Justice Biren Vaishnav. The appeals now stand adjourned and will be listed again on 14th February.

Another appeal on the same issue filed by Dominance Games Private Limited was supposed to be heard on 8th February, 2019 by the same bench but is now adjourned and likely to be listed on 11th March, 2019.

On 4th December 2017, a single judge bench of the High Court comprising of Justice Rajesh H. Shukla, while deciding on a clutch of petitions, ruled that the game of poker is a game of chance and if the game is played within the state of Gujarat, it would amount to being a criminal offence.

The appeal against this order to a division bench has not seen any progress for the past 15 months.  It is likely that all connected petitions related to the poker matter will be listed and heard by the Gujarat High Court within the next one month.